The Effect of Radiation Sterilization on the Stress-Strain Properties of Non-Woven Materials -Based on Polypropylene

Abstract

Non-woven materials are widely used for the manufacture of disposable medical clothing and underwear. Radiation is widely used to sterilize single-use medical devices. The paper analyzes the effect of ionizing radiation at absorbed doses of 0-60 kGy on the stress-strain properties of medical non-woven spanmelt material based on polypropylene obtained by blow-molding technology. It has been established that ionizing radiation significantly reduces the breaking load and elongation in the machine and cross directions of the web. For this type of material, the most critical is the decrease in strength in the cross direction of the web, primarily because the level of strength in the cross direction of spanmelt materials is generally low. Sterilization by ionizing radiation further reduces strength and leads to the fact that non-woven materials irradiated with an absorbed dose of 50-60 kGy are close to unacceptable values in accordance with the requirements of EN 13975-2011.